AFC works to change education policy so that the public school system serves all children effectively. We publish policy reports and data analyses, testify at the City and State levels, speak out in the press to bring attention to the challenges facing the students and families we serve, and join with other advocates, parents, youth, and educators to call for change.
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Maria Odom, Executive Director of Advocates for Children of New York (AFC), issued the following statement in response to the announcement of the Fiscal Year 2027 city budget agreement.
AFC submitted testimony to the New York City Council Committee on Education regarding Intro No. 853, which would require the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD) to conduct a study on how language access needs, income, and geographic location affect access to special education programs and services.
The ARISE Coalition (coordinated by AFC) sent an open letter to Mayor Mamdani, urging the City to make the long overdue investments needed to give all New York City students with disabilities the education they deserve.
Today, AFC and the ARISE Coalition (coordinated by AFC) are testifying before the New York City Council Committee on Finance regarding the Fiscal Year 2027 Executive Budget — Education.
Maria Odom, Executive Director of Advocates for Children of New York (AFC), issued the following statement in response to the release of the New York City Fiscal Year 2027 Executive Budget.
AFC submitted comments to the Mayor’s Office of Equity & Racial Justice regarding the 2026 New York City Preliminary Racial Equity Plan. Our comments focus primarily on the goals regarding NYC Public Schools, particularly in the areas of special education, school climate and social-emotional learning, and literacy instruction.
The ARISE Coalition (coordinated by AFC) is testifying before the Panel for Educational Policy about the need for the City to increase investment in school accessibility in the 2025–2029 Capital Plan.
Today, AFC is testifying before the New York City Council Subcommittee on Early Childhood Education, Committee on Workforce Development, and Committee on Higher Education about the importance of expanding the early childhood workforce to ensure that New York City children have access to high-quality early childhood care and education programs.
Today, AFC, the ARISE Coalition, and the Transition Alliance (both coordinated by AFC) are testifying at the New York City Council Committee on Education’s Preliminary Budget hearing.
AFC submitted testimony to the New York City Committee on Health, Committee on Mental Health and Substance Use, and Committee on Disabilities on the need to extend and baseline funding for the Mental Health Continuum and increase investments to support students with disabilities.